The year is circa 180 C.E., and Rome is still expanding. General Maximus (Russell Crowe) is securing Germania in the name of the Roman Empire, and Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) himself is here to cheer on his legions. The aging emperor is feeling his last days upon him, and has decided to give the rule of Rome over to his most trusted friend and general. Maximus wants nothing more than to go back to his farm in Spain and retire from military life. He wants to spend the rest of his days with his wife and son, but Fate, and some scheming nobles from Rome are going to change his plans drastically. Emperor Marcus has has his children to join him at this battlefield in these “barbaric” lands. Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and Lucilla (Connie Neilsen) have come to Germania by their father’s bidding. Commodus and Lucilla, though related through blood, cannot be any more different than night and day. Commodus is a bit too ambitious, greedy, and not able to see what might become his soon, that being the rule of Rome. As Marcus Aurelius says, “Commodus is not a moral man.” Lucilla would most likely been named Caesar but for the fact that she cannot be heir due to her sex. She is strong, for her family and for Rome, and wants to see the corruption in the forum ended, and the Republic put back where to how it was before the line of scheming and murdering intrigues took over what was supposed to be the highest office in the land. Read more...(821 words, 119 images, estimated 3:17 mins reading time)